VOLUNTEERS FOR RURAL HEALTH, EDUCATION

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VOLUNTEERS FOR RURAL HEALTH, EDUCATION
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
AGRICULTURE EXTENTION (Information, education and
communication) COMMUNITY RADIO As The
Powerful And Inexpensive Tool To Reach The
Millions Of Farmers
Ranganayakulu Bodavala Kamal BANDOPADYAYA
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Agriculture knowledge on right practices,
inputs, processes and markets has to reach
every farmer Whether he is a rich or poor
Whether he is literate or illiterate Whether he
is in a town or in a far-off place Whether he is
at home or in field
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The present methods are Farmers magazines -
limited reach, expensive, literacy
needed Government run radio broad focus,
limited time and centralized Television
commercial approach, electricity, centralized
News papers literacy, different focus,
restricted reach Direct canvas expensive,
limited subjects
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Community radio (widely used in other countries)

• Community radio is very inexpensive and it is
  owned by the community (it may cost any where
  from 10,000 Rs to 1,00,000 Rs to set up each
  station)
• The signal is broadcast in FM mode and it
  generally reaches upto 20 Km depending on the
  topography of the area.
• A user can reach the services with a very
  inexpensive radio costing 30 Rs. to 100 Rs. any
  where in the coverage area.
• Any type of service can be broadcast like,
  weather, pest information, visits of the
  officers, scientists, workshops, Camps,
  marriages, deaths call for the doctor and
  emergency services, Mandi prices and availability
  and workload, local music, interviews with local
  officers. (even missing cattle information)

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Community radio

• Does not cost any thing to the government
• Can be run and managed by Agri universities,
  NGOs, Community organizations, Scientists
• Government can use it for disaster management,
  statewide broadcast and several other
  applications
• Government NOW PERMITS campus wide radio
  broadcast for educational and training
  institutes.

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Community radio status

• At present the licensing is very difficult,
  several procedures to be followed with the GOI
• Increasing awareness with the NGOs and others on
  community radio
• Our state government can take initiative to
  streamline the system and propose for freeing of
  the stringent licensing regime

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Community radio maps (one for each district
with20 km radius for each)
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Community radio maps (one for each block each
covering 15 km)